How To Beat Mosquitoes At the Source 1917

There are plenty of benefits to warm weather, but mosquitoes surely aren’t one of them. When it gets hot and humid, mosquitoes come out in full force, and all the bug spray and citronella candles in the world won’t ward off all of them. One of the most effective ways to combat mosquitoes is to beat them at the source by eliminating the places where they breed. Here is our report on how to beat mosquitoes at the source.

Beating Mosquitoes at the Source

Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. It doesn’t take long for them to hatch, and they don’t need much water either: as little as a capful of still water can harbor mosquito larvae. To significantly reduce mosquito populations on your property – you’ll never get them all, but it helps – take a tour of the premises and eliminate all the still, stagnant water you can find. A few common problem areas include:

Bird baths

Empty flower pots

Old tires (and tire swings)

Tarps that cover lawn mowers and other items

Clogged gutters

Trash cans

Low ground where water accumulates after a rain

Wheelbarrows

Plastic bags

Small garden ponds

Rainwater barrels

Abandoned swimming pools and unused children’s’ pools

Overturn wheelbarrows and children’s pools when not in use so they don’t gather water, and check your gutters to make sure water flows through without pooling. You can drill holes in the bottom of a tire swing so water doesn’t collect, and install a pump in your bird bath to keep the water moving. For garden ponds, install an aerator and introduce a few small fish that eat larvae. Goldfish, koi and the aptly-named mosquitofish are all good choices.

We hope you have found our How To Beat Mosquitoes At the Source report!